Campanula plant named ‘PKMF03’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Campanula  plant named ‘PKMF03’, characterized by having compact plant habit; dense and bushy pyramidal plant form; vigorous growth habit; and large upright white flowers.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Campanulaformanekiana.

Variety denomination: ‘PKMF03’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCampanula plant, botanically known as Campanula formanekiana, commonlyknown as Bellflower, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘PKMF03’.

The new Campanula, ‘PKMF03’, is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Christian Hald MADSEN, in Søhus, Denmark. Theobjective of the breeding program is to develop a new Campanula varietywith upright and compact plant form and white flowers.

The new Campanula cultivar originated from a cross made in August 2006by the inventor between a proprietary selection of Campanulaformanekiana named 11.06.0308-1 as the female parent, and a proprietaryselection of Campanula formanekiana named 11.06.0308-2 as the maleparent. The Inventor selected the new Campanula cultivar on the basis ofits high number of cuttings per stock plant, short vernalization periodand short forcing time after the vernalization, and white flower,slightly violet-blue at lobe tips.

Asexual reproduction of the new Campanula ‘PKMF03’ by terminal cuttingssince March 2008 in Søhus, Denmark, has shown that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PKMF03’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PKMF03’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, compact plant habit;    -   2. Dense plant form, mainly due to short, upright, stiff stems;    -   3. Vigorous pyramidal growth habit, and less need for chemical        growth retardation;    -   4. Higher number of flowers per plant;    -   5. More cuttings on each stock plant;    -   6. Less need for cold treatment for flower induction;    -   7. Shorter-period for forcing the flowers after the cold        treatment; and    -   8. White flowers.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to ‘PKMF03’ is ‘PKMFOR168’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,812). Inside-by-side comparisons between the new Campanula ‘PKMF03’ and‘PKMFOR168’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,812). conducted by the Inventor inStige, Denmark, plants of the cultivar PKMF03 and ‘PKMFOR168’ differ inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Campanula have white flowers whereas plants        of PKMFOR168 have violet-blue flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new Campanula have smaller flowers than plants        of PKMFOR168.    -   3. Plants of the new Campanula have smaller buds than plants of        PKMFOR168.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar ‘PKMF03’, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which more accuratelydescribe the actual colors of ‘PKMF03’.

FIG. 1 shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘PKMF03’.

FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of typical bud of ‘PKMF03’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of a typical ‘PKMF03’ leaf.

FIG. 4 shows a comparison view of a typical flowering plant of ‘PKMF03’with a typical flowering plant of ‘PKMFOR168’.

FIG. 5 shows a comparison view of a close-up view of a typical ‘PKMF03’sepal shape with a close-up view of a typical ‘PKMFOR168’ sepal shape.

FIG. 6 shows a comparison view of a typical ‘PKMF03’ bud with a typical‘PKMFOR168’ bud.

FIG. 7 shows a comparison view of a typical flower of ‘PKMF03’ with atypical flower of ‘PKMFOR168’.

FIG. 8 shows a comparison view of a close-up view of a typical leaf of‘PKMF03’ with a typical leaf of ‘PKMFOR168’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Campanula ‘PKMF03’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varysignificantly with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, day length, and fertility level without any variance ingenotype.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of the newCampanula ‘PKMF03’ as grown in a heated and lighted, glass-coveredgreenhouse in Søhus, Denmark, under conditions which closely approximatethose generally used in commercial practice. Plants of ‘PKMF03’ aregrown in a glass-covered greenhouse where day temperatures in thegreenhouse range from 18-22° C. and the average night temperatures is16° C. Light levels used while growing plants of ‘PKMF03’ are 90 Wm² inlong day photoperiodic treatments. No growth retardants were used whengrowing plants of the new Campanula ‘PKMF03’.

The age of the ‘PKMF03’ plants described is 21 weeks old (short daygrowth for 10 weeks; 3 weeks at 5° C.; long day growth for 8 weeks)after cutting, as grown in 10.5 cm pots. The photographs anddescriptions were taken during the spring/summer season when daytemperatures in the glass-covered greenhouse ranged from 18-22° C. andwhen the night average temperature in the glass-covered greenhouse was16° C.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Campanula formanekiana.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female.—Campanula formanekiana ‘11.06.0308-1’.        -   Male.—Campanula formanekiana ‘11.06.0308-2’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 12 to 15 days at 18 to 21° C.            in tunnels in a greenhouse.        -   Root description.—Fine, well branched.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Biennial, herbaceous plant with upright, compact plant            habit. Produced as potted plant. Campanulate flowers in            racemes. Freely branching with lateral branches forming at            every node.        -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 14 weeks are required to            produce finished flowering plants in 10.5 cm pots.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Size.—Height (pot rim to top of plant plane): About            32-38 cm. Spread (width): About 25-30 cm in diameter.        -   Stem.—Shape: Round. Strength: Strong. Color: RHS 138B,            green.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: About 25-35 per plant. Length            (including flowers): About 25-35 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to            3 mm. Basal branching: Present. Internode Length: About            20-30 mm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—8-9.        -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Length.—Basal: About 2-6 cm; Apical: About 2-6 mm.        -   Width.—Basal: About 24-27 mm; Apical: 8-12 mm.        -   Shape.—Cordate to obovate, dentate.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate to rounded.        -   Base.—Cordate to truncate.        -   Margin.—Serate to Biserate.        -   Texture.—Pubescent on both sides.        -   Color.—Upper surfaces (young and mature foliage) RHS 137A;            Under surfaces (young and mature foliage): RHS 138C.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Reticulate. Color: (Upper and under            surfaces) RHS 138D, green.        -   Petiole.—Length: Basal: About 9 cm to 10 cm; Apical: 0-2 cm.            Diameter: 1-3 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: RHS 138B,            green.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Single, large campanulate            flowers in racemes turning upright to outward; basipetal            flowering habit.        -   Natural flowering season.—June-July.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual            flowers is highly dependent on temperature and light            conditions. Flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Weak.        -   Inflorescence size.—Length: About 15-35 cm. Diameter: About            5-25 cm.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—5-25.        -   Quantity of flower buds and flowers per plant.—150-250.        -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—5-10.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—5-10.        -   Flowers.—Height: About 35-40 mm. Diameter: About 25-40 mm.            Shape: Sympetalous, with acute petal lobes (about 15 mm long            and 12-15 mm wide). Aspect: Upright to outward. Corolla            color: RHS NN155D.        -   Buds.—Length: Up to 25 mm. Diameter: Up to 12 mm. Shape:            Oblong, petals forming a ribbed tube. Color: RHS 157A,            green-white.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single, sympetalous, campanulate.            Quantity per flower: 5. Overall shape: Sympetalous with            acute lobes. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Length: About 15 mm.            Width: About 12-15 mm. Margin: Entire. Texture: Silky. Color            (when opening): Upper surface: RHS NN155D, white; Under            surface RHS NN155D, white. Color (when fully opened): Upper            surface: RHS NN155D, white (at base) RHS 92D, violet-blue            (at lobe tips). Under surface RHS NN155D, white. Fading:            None observed. Sepals: Arrangement: Basally fused. Quantity            per flower: 5. Overall shape: Broad Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base: Sagittate.        -   Length.—About 30-40 mm.        -   Width.—About 10-20 mm.        -   Margin.—Serate to biserate.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color: (immature—both surfaces).—RHS 138A, green.        -   Color: (mature—both surfaces).—RHS 138A, green.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Length: About 15-25 mm.            Diameter: About 3-4 mm. Color: RHS 138B, green.        -   Pedicels.—Yes.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Quantity per flower: 5. Anther: Shape:            Lanceolate, antisepalous, introse, basifixed and two celled,            screwing when withering. Length: About 12 mm. Color: Just            before flower opening: RHS 10C, yellow; When withering: RHS            11B, yellow. Pollen: Amount: Plenty. Color: RHS 10B, yellow.            Pistil: Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 30-40 mm. Stigma:            Shape: Tripartite. Color: RHS 149C, yellow-green. Style:            Length: 20-25 mm. Color: RHS155A, white. Ovary: Color:            RHS155A with yellow (RHS17C) nectary.-   Seeds: No seeds observed.-   Fruit: None observed.-   Growth retardants: No growth retardants were used in the breeding    program.-   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Campanula have in general good    tolerance to drought, rain and wind, with low temperature resistance    to 0° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: ‘PKMF03’ is not resistant to any diseases    or pests typical to Campanula cultivars.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant named ‘PKMF03’, asillustrated and described herein.